Gyromotor-wheel controller.



R. S. RIGHESON. GYROMOTOR WHEEL CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13,1911.

791 Patented May27,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES [NV NTOR W4 Altarney COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH IO-,WASHINGTON. D. c,

R. S. RIGHESON. GYROMOTOR WHEEL CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1911.

1,062,797, Patented May 27, 1913.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W] T NESSES COLUMBIA PLANOuRAFH 60., WASHINGTON, n. c

RICHARD S. RICI-IESON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GYROMOTOR-WHEEL CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27,1913.

Application filed November 13, 1911. Serial No. 660,019.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD S. RICHESON, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Gyromotorheel Controllers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to gyromotors, and particularly to that part of agyromotor which may be called the wheel controller.

The object of the gyromotor wheel con troller is to facilitate thebalancing act-ion of the wheels in connection with handle-bar operation.This is accomplished by connecting the front and rear wheels in such away that, when by the handle-bar movement the driver directs the frontwheel one way he simultaneously, through intervening mechanism, directsthe rear wheel in the op posite direction. Hence while this alsofacilitates steering around corners and the like, that is quiteincidental.

The primary object of the gyromotor wheel controller is to make the twowheels upon which the car travels so responsive to the drivers touchthrough the handle-bars that the operation necessary to maintain thebalance of the car while going is both shortened and quickened. Now inorder to get freedom of action in the rear wheel the en gine is mountedupon a table so constructed that the entire engine moves from side toside as the wheel is directed. In the modification, a power transmissionis shown whereby the power from the engine is transmitted in such a wayas to allow the free operation of the rear wheel while power is beingapplied to it from the engine mounted stationary upon the frame of thecar.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which likesymbols of reference representcorresponding parts in the several views:Figure 1 is a longitudinal side view of the frame of a machine with mydevice connected to the same; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine; Fig.3 a side view of a modification; and, Fig. 4 a plan view of themodification.

1 represents the central rib of the machine; 2 and 3 the rear and frontwheels of the same; and 4 the front fork.

5 .is a frame pivotally connected to the rear of the main rib by apintle 6, which is j ournaled in a bearing 7 formed in said rib. Thecentral rib 1 is composed of a central piece 8 and side pieces 9 and 10,said side pieces having bores in the same through which pass cables 11and 12 extending from the handle-bar 13, and adapted to be operated bythe manipulation of the same.

14 is a pinion journaled on a pintle 15 on the bar 8, and havingconnection with the cables 11 and 12 so as to be rotated by them whenthe handlebar is operated.

16 is a rack in which the pinion 14 operates, said rack being formed ona yoke 17 embracing the main rib 1, and preferably formed integral withthe frame 5, which carries the rear wheel.

18 is an engine and 19 the shaft of the same, said engine beingsupported on a table 34, carried by the frame 5.

20 is a belt carriage connected to the rear wheel, and 21 a beltconnecting said wheel with a shaft 19 to propel the machine.

22 are bearing rollers to facilitate operation of the rear frame 5.

23 are springs connecting both sides of the fork 4 to the respectivecorners of the front of the car to hold the front wheel normallystraight, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the frame being shown in dottedlines.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing. Whenthe rider desires to turn the machine from a straight line he operatesthe handle-bar, which turns it to the right or left, communicatingmotion through the cables to the pinion 14 which in turn operates therack and with it the rear wheel. If the machine be turned to the rightthe rear wheel is directed proportionately to the left, and vice versa.

In the modification shown, a gear 24 meshes with a gear 25 on a shaft 26carrying a skew gear 27, meshing with a similar gear 28 on a shaft 29;and 83 are arms on the fork connected to the cables 11 and 12. Thecentral and side pieces of the main rib have, in the modification, boresthrough the same, as shown, to permit the cables to cross each other andobtain the same movement as in the preferred form of my device. Shaft 29has at its lower extremity a bevel gear 30, meshing with a gear 31 onthe rear axle 32 of the machine. The operation is the same as that ofthe previously described mechanism, and is operated from the handlebarin the same way.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A gyromotor wheel controller, consisting of a main rib formed withlongitudinal bores, forks journaled in the rib, cables Working in thebores of the rib, and means connecting the cables and forks to enablethe wheels to be operated in unison.

2. In a gyromotor wheel controller, the combination with the wheels ofthe machine, of forks carrying said wheels, rotating journals for saidforks, cables connecting the wheels to cause them to operate inconjunction and means for normally keeping the wheels straight.

3. A gyromotor wheel controller, consisting of a main rib, forksjournaled in the same, the rear fork having a forwardly projecting yokeembracing the rib, a rack on said yoke, a pinion journaled on the mainrib and meshing with said rack, and cables connecting the front forkwith the pinion to operate the wheels in unison.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD S. RIGHESON. \Vitnesses:

CAROLYN DE VELLING, J. WM. REILY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

